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Category Archives: Taxonomy
Do wasps bite, and does their saliva have any defensive properties?
Today’s question comes to us from a friend of mine, through a conversation on FB instant messenger. Wasps are a huge group, and at least 150,000 types of bees, wasps and ants have been described by scientists. Despite the fact … Continue reading
Posted in Behavior, Chemistry, Ecology, Evolution, Physiology, Pollination, Research, Taxonomy
Tagged ants, Bees, Beneficial Insects, Biochemistry
8 Comments
What Is That Bug? Thank a Taxonomist!
Written by Nancy Miorelli We normally reserve our energy for writing about insects, but we often get inquiries asking us to identify insects. This isn’t our main purpose. We’ll help you as far as we can and then refer you to other blogs, Facebook groups, and websites where entomology … Continue reading
How do you identify fire ants?
Written by Joe Ballenger Question submitted by Bridget Mendel’s first grade class. Fire ants are a really big problem. They’ve got a really nasty attitude towards both people and other bugs. They’re really common, and it’s too easy to step … Continue reading
Why are some ladybugs half yellow and half brown?
@SciBugs @Stylopidae what is a lady bug called that is half brown and half red? pic.twitter.com/E7JrP8qnzb — Mendel’s Firsties (@bridget_mendel) April 21, 2015 @UKLadybirds How unusual are half-and-half ladybirds like this? It looks pretty unusual to me but was just … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Developmental Biology, Ecology, Education, Evolution, Physiology, Research, Taxonomy
Tagged Biochemistry, Butterflies and Moths, Ceratopogonidae, Colors, Development
2 Comments
How do you know if a bug has been discovered before?
Post written by Joe Ballenger How do you know if a bug has been discovered before? -Bridget Mendel’s First Grade Class Entomologists have a pretty impressive ability to identify whatever’s put in front of us. It’s a major part of … Continue reading
Collecting Tips – The Awkward Inbetween Steps
Written by Nancy Miorelli The internet is chock-full of advice for collecting and if you’re looking to build an insect collection but can’t take a formal class, there’s lots of available help. I myself, have a YouTube series dedicated to … Continue reading
Posted in Taxonomy
Tagged alcohol, Bug, bug collection, butterfly triangle, Insect, Insect collection, kill jar, killing jar, lep triangle, preservation, relaxing chamber
42 Comments
Birds, Cows, Hens, and Bugs – Things the Ladybug is Not: Why Are Ladybugs Called Ladybugs?
Written by Nancy Miorelli One of the questions that I’ve seen on Twitter and on Instagram is why is the ladybug called a “ladybug” or a “ladybird” if you’re in the UK. These names are especially confusing because it’s obviously … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Taxonomy
Tagged Coccinellidae, Lady Beetle, Ladybird, Ladybug, Mary, why are ladybugs called ladybugs
9 Comments
Why do entomologists kill insects? A non-taxonomist’s perspective.
Co-Written by Joe Ballenger and Nancy Miorelli Admittedly, this isn’t really a direct user submission per se, but it’s a question which comes up in the entomological world enough to warrant a discussion. Collecting of insects is not controversial amongst … Continue reading
Posted in Education, Research, Taxonomy
Tagged Agriculture, Collections, Education, Entomology, Habitat Loss, Inects, Insect Killing, Medical Entomology, Research, Science, Science Communicaiton
18 Comments
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